System and method of operating a centrifuge utilizing a protocol record database
First Claim
1. A centrifuge system comprising:
- a centrifuge device;
a data store for storing centrifugation protocols;
means for creating said centrifugation protocols and for storing said centrifugation protocols onto said data store;
display means for showing available protocols and for selecting one of said centrifugation protocols from said data store; and
controller means for operating said centrifuge device, including means for accessing said data store to obtain one of said centrifugation protocols and means for communicating a selected one of said centrifugation protocols to said centrifuge device;
whereby said centrifuge device is operated by said controller means in accordance with said selected one of said centrifugation protocols.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A protocol record database is used in conjunction with operating a centrifuge device. Each protocol record includes information relevant to the centrifugation of a certain specimen. The user can search the database for a protocol on the basis of the specimen and/or the type of separation desired. The database has an interface to one or more centrifuges via a controller. The controller, operates a centrifuge in accordance with the run program of a selected protocol record. In a preferred embodiment, the protocol records have links to additional files which supplement the information contained in the protocol records. These supplemental files include information related to the availability and compatibility of the various hardware needed to perform a centrifugation. The supplemental files can also be used to provide general information to assist the user in setting up a centrifuge for an experiment.
68 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A centrifuge system comprising:
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a centrifuge device; a data store for storing centrifugation protocols; means for creating said centrifugation protocols and for storing said centrifugation protocols onto said data store; display means for showing available protocols and for selecting one of said centrifugation protocols from said data store; and controller means for operating said centrifuge device, including means for accessing said data store to obtain one of said centrifugation protocols and means for communicating a selected one of said centrifugation protocols to said centrifuge device; whereby said centrifuge device is operated by said controller means in accordance with said selected one of said centrifugation protocols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for centrifuging biochemical specimens comprising the steps of:
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creating a database of protocol records, each protocol record having a first identifier which identifies a biochemical specimen, a second identifier which specifies a separation method, first parameters which specify physical attributes of said biochemical specimen, second parameters which specify hardware used to centrifuge said biochemical specimen and third parameters which specify a run program for centrifuging said biochemical specimen; storing a plurality of said protocol records, including querying a user for information relating to a new protocol record, ensuring internal consistency of information provided by said user and recording said information as one of said protocol records in said database; identifying a protocol record from among said plurality of protocol records; and operating a centrifuge in accordance with said identified protocol record, including accessing said database to retrieve said run program associated with said identified protocol record and communicating said run program to said centrifuge. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for centrifugation of samples, said system comprising:
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a plurality of centrifuge devices; a database of protocol records, each protocol record having fields which identify a sample, physical parameters of said sample, a centrifuge for centrifugation of said sample, hardware to be used with said centrifuge, centrifugation criteria and a run program for centrifugation of said sample; a database of multimedia files, said multimedia files having information relating to said centrifuge devices and hardware for use with said centrifuge devices; means for creating a new protocol record and for storing said new protocol record in said database of protocol records, including means for linking at least one of said multimedia files to said new protocol record; means for selecting one of said protocol records, including means for identifying a sample and physical parameters of said identified sample and means for examining said multimedia files; and means for controlling said centrifuge devices, including means for accessing said database of protocol records to obtain a run program of a selected protocol record and means for selectively communicating with one of said centrifuge devices, whereby a corresponding centrifuge device identified by said selected protocol record is controlled in accordance with a corresponding run program identified by said selected protocol record. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification